- Release of a motorcycle with a helicopter engine
- Technical characteristics of a motorcycle with a helicopter engine
A large number of new motorcycle models are produced annually in the world.
Manufacturers strive to make their products unique and original. Thanks to this, consumers have the opportunity to purchase those technical exhibits that will allow them to stand out on the roads during their journey. In terms of technical characteristics, all motorcycles are different. Motorcyclists, as you know, love high speeds, which make them feel free on the track. For this purpose, manufacturers use various engine options. Three years ago, Marine Turbine Technologies launched its first helicopter-powered motorcycle. It differs from all other types of motorcycles not only in its design features, but also in its technical parameters.
Motorcycle with a helicopter engine
A large number of new motorcycle models are produced annually in the world.
Manufacturers strive to make their products unique and original. Thanks to this, consumers have the opportunity to purchase those technical exhibits that will allow them to stand out on the roads during their journey. In terms of technical characteristics, all motorcycles are different. Motorcyclists, as you know, love high speeds, which make them feel free on the track. For this purpose, manufacturers use various engine options. Three years ago, Marine Turbine Technologies launched its first helicopter-powered motorcycle. It differs from all other types of motorcycles not only in its design features, but also in its technical parameters.
Motorcycle intake with helicopter engine
Two years ago, the MTT company presented its first creation to the motorcyclists of this world in the form of the original Y2K bike. It is equipped with an engine with a power of 320. This engine is used in helicopters. It has very high power. The developers made it so that a motorcycle with a helicopter engine could accelerate to one hundred kilometers per hour in one and a half seconds. The manufacturers of this unique motorcycle have created ultra-high-speed equipment that can reach speeds of up to 420 kilometers per hour. This is a dream for any motorcyclist.
In 2012, the motorcycle passed all tests in road conditions. It is quite suitable for use on the trails.
This motorcycle model is the best option for those motorcyclists who simply cannot imagine their life without riding fast. A speed of 400 kilometers per hour is an achievement for such a vehicle.
The design of the motorcycle of this model is original and attractive. The company produces models in a variety of colors. Therefore, consumers have the opportunity to choose the most optimal design option for themselves.
CGS Hawk aircraft with an engine from a Honda GL500 Silver Wing motorbike
The CGS Hawk was the first closed-cockpit ultralight aircraft, released in 1982. Its frame is made of tubular aluminum, which is covered with fiberglass panels. The Hawk Ultra is a single-seat aircraft that weighs only 1,015 kg.
Previously, a number of engines were available for the aircraft (including Rotax and Kawasaki). In 2010, someone decided to install a 497 cc engine from a Honda GL500 Silver Wing motorcycle on the plane. see. This V-Twin engine was used on Honda motorcycles in the early 1980s.
Technical characteristics of a motorcycle with a helicopter engine
A motorcycle with a helicopter engine has unique characteristics. Consumers all over the world are attracted not only by its original design, but also by its technical parameters. The motorcycle itself is quite powerful.
In addition to the engine, which makes a large number of revolutions and allows the vehicle to accelerate to 400 kilometers per hour, it has other technical data that deserve attention:
- fuel tank volume 34 liters,
- the weight of the entire structure is 208.7 kilograms,
- power 320 horsepower,
- maximum speed 420 kilometers per hour,
- wheel size 17,
- Accelerates to maximum speed in seconds.
This hyperbike has no analogues anywhere in the world. It is a high-speed device that will appeal to any motorcyclist.
Manufacturers have tried to create a high-tech motorcycle that allows you to enjoy high speeds at any time of the year. Thanks to the gas turbine engine from the helicopter, the motorcycle became a living legend. Its cost started from 200 thousand dollars. Not every motorcyclist can afford to buy such a motorcycle, despite all the love for fast riding.
A new model of a flying motorcycle was presented at the Army 2020 forum
The international forum "Army 2020" is a platform not only for demonstrating the latest military innovations, but also technical developments in other areas. A hoverbike is an ultra-light machine that weighs up to 115 kilograms. A flying motorcycle is being developed for movement in an urban environment.
The exhibition presents the latest hoverbike model from the Skolkovo-based Hoversurf company. On the forum, a flying motorcycle is displayed without electronics and engines.
Flight tests have already been carried out in the USA, noted Alexander, a representative of the Hoversurf company, in an interview with the editors of PolitExpert . The hoverbike took off from the ground and rose to a height of up to six kilometers.
The body is made entirely of carbon. The material is durable and very light. When fully assembled, the hoverbike weighs 115 kilograms and is capable of transporting the same amount. Maximum speed is 60 kilometers per hour. Charging lasts for 40 minutes, that is, for 20 kilometers.
“The model has cast batteries, especially no different from smartphone ones. The hoverbike takes 2.5 hours to charge. Now we are looking for a battery to increase range, charging efficiency and safety,” added PE’s interlocutor.
Propeller motors operate on electric propulsion. The hoverbike does not use any hydrocarbon fuel, so it is very environmentally friendly. The model presented at the exhibition uses six propeller motors, while the previous ones used four.
“The main difference is the increased safety of the hoverbike. The engines are in casings, which means it is very difficult to get injured. We need to try. The model has a built-in ballistic parachute. And the electronics prevent you from falling off the model. She calculates everything: barometers, gyroscopes,” Alexander clarified.
The hoverbike is designed for city streets to avoid traffic jams. The Hoversurf company, in addition to motorcycles, develops flying cars. They reach speeds of up to 250 kilometers per hour and cover distances of up to 600 kilometers. A flight on such a robotic taxi will cost two or three times less than a trip to Uber, a Hoversurf representative added.
Photo source: politexpert.net – Elena Ivanova
The previous model of the hoverbike was presented to the Dubai police, as a demonstration of the project took place in this city. A lot of foreign investors are interested in future civil transport, some even make pre-orders.
“In the USA, the hoverbike was immediately covered by insurance. The model is not classified as an aircraft and does not require a flying license. This is ordinary transport,” said a Hoversurf representative.
There are certain problems with legislation and infrastructure for future transport. The company is trying to improve in all areas, but for now its main efforts are focused on the development and development of hoverbikes and flying cars.
Previously, The Drive experts compared the Russian amphibious vehicle “Drozd” with James Bond’s car. The interest of foreign specialists is not accidental, since this is a serious application for the development of this area, says military expert Andrei Koshkin.
General description of the device
Currently, there are two types of such units. The first type is piston or internal combustion engines. The second type is air-breathing engines. In addition, a rocket engine can also act as a helicopter engine. However, it is usually not used as the main one, but is briefly included in the operation of the machine when additional power is needed, for example, during landing or takeoff.
In the past, turboprop engines were often used for installation on helicopters. They had a single-shaft design, but they began to be replaced quite strongly by other types of equipment. This became especially noticeable on multi-engine helicopters. In this type of technology, the most widely used are twin-shaft turboprop helicopter engines with a so-called free turbine.
Four cool private creations in the world of aviation.
There are many people in the world who love to build airplanes. We are not talking about Boeings and Airbuses, but about the private creations of Hans Mayer or Max Musterman, who build their own planes in a garage near their house.
And since they are unable to purchase jet engines for their aircraft, they decided to use other energy sources.
In principle, car engines can be adapted for small aircraft. But some enthusiastic engineers went even further, creating more daring projects - focusing on motorcycle engines as power units for their light aircraft. Here are four really cool airplanes that are powered by motorcycle engines.
Twin-shaft units
A distinctive feature of such devices was that the turbocharger did not have a direct mechanical connection with the main rotor. The use of twin-shaft turboprop units was considered quite effective, since they made it possible to make full use of the helicopter's power structure. The thing is that in this case, the rotation speed of the main rotor of the equipment did not depend on the rotation speed of the turbocharger, this in turn made it possible to select the optimal frequency for each flight mode separately. In other words, the twin-shaft turboprop helicopter engine ensured efficient and reliable operation of the power plant.
Jet propeller drive
Helicopters also use jet propeller drive. In this case, the circumferential force will be applied directly to the propeller blades themselves, without using a heavy and complex mechanical transmission that would force the entire propeller to rotate. To create such a circumferential force, either autonomous jet engines are used, which are located on the rotor blades, or resort to the outflow of gas (compressed air). In this case, the gas will exit through special nozzle holes, which are located at the end of each blade.
As for the economical operation of a reactive drive, here it will be inferior to a mechanical one. If you choose the most economical option only among jet devices, then the best is a turbojet engine, which is located on the propeller blades. However, constructively creating such a device turned out to be too difficult, which is why such devices did not receive widespread practical use. Because of this, helicopter engine factories did not begin mass production.
The first models of turboshaft devices
The first turboshaft engines were created back in the 60–70s. It should be mentioned that at that time such equipment fully met all the needs of not only civil aviation, but also military aviation. Such units were able to provide parity, and in some cases, superiority over the inventions of competitors. The most mass production of turboshaft helicopter engines was achieved through the assembly of the TV3-117 model. It is worth noting that this device had several different modifications.
In addition to it, the D-136 model also received good distribution. Before the release of these two models, the D-25V and TV2-117 were produced, but at that time they could no longer compete with the new engines, and therefore their production was stopped. However, it is fair to say that quite a lot of them were produced, and they are still installed on those types of air transport that were released quite a long time ago.
Equipment gradation
In the mid-80s, a need arose to unify the design of a helicopter engine. To solve the problem, it was decided to bring all turboshaft and turboprop engines available at that time to a common size range. This proposal was accepted at the government level, and therefore a division into 4 categories arose.
The first category is devices with a capacity of 400 hp. s., second – 800 l. s., third - 1600 l. With. and the fourth - 3200 l. With. In addition, the creation of two more models of helicopter gas turbine engine was authorized. Their power was 250 hp. With. (0 category) and 6000 l. With. (category 5). In addition, it was assumed that each category of these devices would be capable of generating power by 15–25%.
Further development
In order to fully ensure the development and construction of new models, CIAM conducted quite extensive research work. This made it possible to obtain a scientific and technical basis (NTR), according to which the development of this area will proceed.
This NTZ indicated that the operating principle of helicopter engines of future generations should be based on the simple principle of the Brayton thermodynamic cycle. In this case, the development and construction of new units will be promising. As for the design of the new models, they should have a single-shaft gas generator, and a power turbine with a forward output of the power shaft through this gas generator. In addition, the design must also include a built-in gearbox.
In accordance with all the requirements of the scientific and technical background, work began at the Omsk Design Bureau on the production of such a helicopter engine model as the TV GDT TV-0-100, the power of this device was supposed to be 720 hp. s., and it was decided to use it on a machine such as the Ka-126. However, in the 90s, all work was stopped, despite the fact that at that time the device was quite advanced, and also had the ability to boost power to indicators such as 800–850 hp. With.
Production at OJSC Rybinsk Motors
At the same time, Rybinsk Motors OJSC was fine-tuning an engine model such as the TV GDT RD-600V. The power of the device was 1300 liters. s., and they planned to use it for such a type of helicopter as the Ka-60. The gas generator for such a unit was made according to a fairly compact design, which included a four-stage centrifugal compressor. It had 3 axial stages and 1 centrifugal stage. The rotation speed provided by such a unit reached 6000 rpm. An excellent addition was that such an engine was additionally equipped with protection from dust and dirt, as well as from the ingress of other foreign objects. This type of engine has undergone many different tests, and its final certification was completed in 2001.
Replica of an L-39 Albatros aircraft with a BMW S 1000 RR engine
This plane is probably the only one on our list that any pilot would not refuse to fly. The UL-39 Albi replica is a smaller version of the L-39 Albatros aircraft. This Czechoslovakian aircraft was developed in the 1960s.
The construction of the smaller version involved the Technical University of Prague, Czech aircraft manufacturer Jihlavan and a specialized carbon production company called LA Composite.
It was decided to use the BMW S 1000 R engine as the power unit. The unit is a four-cylinder engine with a capacity of 1000 cc. cm power 199 l. With. According to the expert, this engine is ideal for light aircraft due to its ability to operate at 12,000 rpm.
Motorcycle with helicopter engine
Today, the production of various types of equipment has advanced quite widely. This is true for almost all industries, including motorcycle manufacturing. Each manufacturer always tried to make its new model more unique and original than its competitors. Because of this desire, Marine Turbine Technologies recently released the first motorcycle that was powered by a helicopter engine. Naturally, this change greatly affected both the structural part of the machine and its technical characteristics.
Replica Nieuport 12 aircraft with Yamaha XV1100 engine
In the early 1990s, Richard Gile created a replica of the Nieuport 12. The Nieuport 12 is a French combat aircraft from the First World War. Depending on the model, the original aircraft were equipped with an 80 hp Le Rhone engine or a 100 hp Clerget engine.
In his version, Gile used a Yamaha XV1100 V-twin engine, also known as a Virago.
The creator of the aircraft replica chose this engine because of its lightness (the engine block is made of cast aluminum) and also because of the integrated gearbox.
Can you imagine - Richard Gile's plane has a manual transmission! In 1993, the V-Twin Nieuport received clearance from the US FAA.
Equipment parameters
Naturally, the characteristics of a motorcycle that has a helicopter engine at its disposal also has unique technical parameters. In addition to the fact that such an innovation made it possible to accelerate the motorcycle to an almost unimaginable 400 km/h, there are other properties that are also worth paying attention to.
Firstly, the fuel tank volume of this model is 34 liters. Secondly, the weight of the equipment has increased quite significantly and amounts to 208.7 kg. The power of this motorcycle is 320 horsepower. The maximum possible speed that could be achieved on such a vehicle is 420 km/h, and the size of its rims is 17 inches. The last thing worth mentioning is that the operation of the helicopter engine greatly affected the acceleration process, which is why the equipment reaches its limit in a matter of seconds.
The first such creation that Marine Turbine Technologies showed to the world was called Y2K. Here we can add that the exact acceleration time to 100 km/h takes only one and a half seconds.
To summarize all of the above, we can say that the industry for creating helicopter engines has come a long way, and the current development of technology has made it possible to use products even in equipment such as motorcycles.
MTT Turbine motorcycle with a helicopter engine - review and characteristics
We all remember the cult film “Torque”, in which one of the main characters in the climax rides a motorcycle with an engine from an MTT Turbine helicopter. The sound, which was unlike anything else, forever sank into the souls of motorcyclists around the world. However, the motorcycle has been on sale for a long time, albeit in limited editions.
Naturally, this motorcycle costs a lot of money. Its approximate cost is about 200 thousand dollars. Therefore, a test drive and other in-depth information about it is practically out of the question. However, today we will try to collect all the opinions of its owners and people who have tested the MTT Turbine motorcycle.
It can be called serial only figuratively, because no more than five MTT Turbine motorcycles are produced per year. Their number fluctuates depending on the number of orders for it. People who have tested it on the race track say that driving it on the track is pointless. He only travels in a straight line. But in a straight line he has no equal. After all, its heart is a gas turbine engine, which was produced by Rolls Royce for small private Allison helicopters.
The torque curve of this engine is tuned to deliver maximum torque throughout the entire rev range. The weight of this engine is only 61 kilograms. But the most scary thing that makes the MTT Turbine a monster on two wheels is its power. It makes 320 horsepower at 52,000 rpm, you must agree - it's impressive. The weight of the motorcycle, of course, cannot be compared with modern sports bikes, but still amounts to 227 kilograms. With a weight-to-power ratio well above one horsepower per kilogram, the MTT Turbine's powertrain pulls the entire package like a matchbox. But this makes it practically uncontrollable on the road. Testers of the MTT Turbine motorcycle spoke about its maximum speed. When accelerating, the overloads go off scale, and unlocking its full potential is simply unrealistic. The human body simply cannot stand it. It was able to accelerate to 365 km/h during testing.
An interesting point is that the MTT Turbine motorcycle is officially approved for riding on public roads. Exhaust fumes pose a danger to other road users. Their temperature is much higher and will easily melt the bumper of a car standing nearby in traffic. It is crammed with various kinds of electronic assistants. Without them, releasing him on the road would be madness. Rear view camera, large LCD screen, motion detectors front and rear. Carbon rims weigh almost nothing. This is just a small list of innovations that were applied to the MTT Turbine motorcycle.
The fastest motorcycles
9th place: Ducati 1098S - the fastest Ducati
Ducati motorcycles have always been famous for their Italian charm , but never particularly shone with their speed characteristics. Even though the company is represented in many types of motorcycle competitions, including the queen of motorsports - the MotoGP series.
This motorcycle has a style that is unique to Italian technology.
The Ducati 1098S received a two-cylinder engine with a volume of 1099 cubic centimeters and a power of 160 hp. and capable of accelerating a motorcycle up to 275 km/h . The engine, of course, has a liquid cooling system, and torque is transmitted to the wheels through a six-speed gearbox. Both units are made using special technologies to increase their strength and reduce the final weight of the motorcycle to 173 kg. We have not yet reached the cherished mark of one horsepower per kilogram of weight, but we have nine more models ahead, so we will cross it more than once.
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8th place: BMW K1200S - German sports tourer
This model is very popular in Germany itself , since it is not a full-fledged sports motorcycle, but a sports tourer, which is convenient to ride for a long time and at high speed. You can also hang a lot of panniers on it and this will have almost no effect on control, since it itself weighs quite a lot and has a powerful engine.
This is not a pure sport. It has different settings for components and assemblies, a larger wheelbase, and you can hang panniers on it to ride long distances comfortably.
Among the main characteristics is a four-cylinder engine with a capacity of 1157 cubic meters. It has a power of 164 hp. and is capable of accelerating a motorcycle up to 280 km/h . A six-speed manual transmission helps him in this. The cutoff is at 10,250 rpm, which is quite high for such a large engine.
Among other things, the motorcycle is distinguished by a rather sophisticated appearance, which is not typical for German industrial design, and high reliability. For a tourist model, this is perhaps the most important indicator.
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7th place: Kawasaki Ninja ZX-14R - one and a half liter Kawasaki
In fact, the engine displacement of this motorcycle is slightly smaller - 1441 cc. But this is enough to accelerate this “pumped up” monster from the “land of the rising sun” to 295 km/h .
In reality this bike is quite large. But with such an engine it cannot be otherwise.
To achieve a power of 200 hp, only a large engine volume is not enough. It was necessary to further increase the fuel supply pressure to ensure a higher compression ratio. At maximum operating modes, this is unlikely to have a positive effect on the resource, but few people are able to reach these modes, much less maintain them for a long time.
6th place: MV Agusta F4 1000R - rare motorcycle
Although this motorcycle is serial, its series is very limited. However, it was pumped up quite well relative to the base F4 1000. As a result, they managed to remove 174 hp from its liter sixteen-valve four-cylinder engine, accelerating the device to 299 km/h .
Thanks to the unusual shape of the fairing and headlights, this motorcycle is very recognizable.
A well-tuned six-speed manual transmission allows you to quickly reach this speed, and the Brembo braking system , installed as part of the basic equipment, helps you stop.
The same speed indicators are found in the German BMW S1000RR, whose name has become a household name for many, like R1 and Fireblade.
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5th place: Yamaha R1 - liter Yamaha
And here is that same R1 model - a laconic name that immediately gives an idea of what kind of motorcycle it is. It has a very recognizable shape of the front fairing, so even the least knowledgeable person about motorcycles is unlikely to confuse the R1 with another model.
Those in the know will immediately recognize the R1 by these headlights. But in new versions they have become more compact and less expressive.
The series began to be produced at the end of the last millennium, but after a number of updates it is still modern and relevant. Its liter engine can produce 200 hp, and the engine itself is very revving. It is capable of spinning up to 12,500 rpm. As a result, the device reaches the coveted 300 km/h .
4th place: Honda CBR1100XX Blackbird - the fastest CBR
This selection could not do without models from this manufacturer. I myself am a fan of the brand and over the past 10 years I have gone through several of its models, continuing to choose only them.
This particular model was in production from 1996 to 2007. Over the years, she has collected more than one speed record for motorcycles, leaving many other famous models behind.
Blackbird is the marketing name for this motorcycle. The model itself is called CBR-1100XX. It’s difficult to call it a pure sport, but the “CBR” line in the name says it very loudly. This is how Honda labels its sports models. In particular, the famous Fireblade (CBR1000).
It can accelerate to 305 km/h . It is powered by an engine of slightly more than 1.1 liters with a power of 153 hp. The engineers did not strive to provide it with a high compression ratio or bring it to a sky-high operating mode in terms of speed. Therefore, despite the high maximum speed, this motorcycle is extremely comfortable to ride. Primarily due to the high smoothness of the ride.
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3rd place: MTT Y2K - motorcycle with turbine
Production models are gradually running out, but there is still one more to go. This particular motorcycle is distinguished by the presence of a full-fledged gas turbine engine manufactured by Rolls-Royce .
MTT Y2K even entered the Guinness Book of Records in the category “The most powerful motorcycle in the world.” At the same time, despite the fact that the model can hardly be called a production model, it is certified for use on public roads. True, this is the only such motorcycle of its kind.
The offset rear swingarm allows this motorcycle to at least slightly reduce the likelihood of “wheelie” (swinging or standing on the rear wheel) from excess power.
Its maximum speed is 370 km/h , and the motorcycle reaches it thanks to the same 320 hp engine, which is capable of spinning up to 52,000 rpm.
2nd place: Suzuki Hayabusa - the fastest production motorcycle
This motorcycle was named after the fastest bird in the world (there are other fast animals). She is the peregrine falcon, which can accelerate to approximately 330 km/h. But the motorcycle named after this bird goes much faster and reaches 399 km/h.
It is equipped with a 4-cylinder engine with a displacement of almost 1.4 liters. Engineers were able to extract 197 hp from it. Thanks to these characteristics, the Hayabusa, or simply “ busa ,” as motorcyclists call it, accelerates to 100 km/h in about 2.5 seconds. Naturally, the acceleration speed depends on the weight of the pilot, but it is still very fast.
This is not the most common model, but it can also be found in Russian cities. As a rule, motorcycles are brought from Japanese auctions, and you can recognize them by the characteristic inflated shapes of the fairings.
The most important thing is that this is a motorcycle that you can just go out and buy. It is quite expensive, but its price tag is comparable to other motorcycles. Especially if you pick it up on the secondary market. I myself did not have the opportunity to test it in action, but the owners talked about the character of this motorcycle, which must be tamed . That is, this motorcycle is quite difficult for daily use due to its clumsiness and heavy weight. But one thing you definitely can’t take away from him is unlimited power.
This car can accelerate to 532 km/h and you haven't even heard of it.
Flight, technical and operational characteristics of Robinson helicopters
When experts offer Robinson helicopters to a potential buyer, they focus on the unique technical characteristics of these aircraft. What parameters are we talking about and what do they mean?
Technical characteristics of helicopters are combined into groups:
- Flight parameters. They describe the operational properties and capabilities of the aircraft.
- Technical parameters include the type and features of the power plant, fuel consumption and tank capacity.
- Operating characteristics of the rotorcraft: dimensions, weight and load capacity.
Flight characteristics of Robinson helicopters
Flight characteristics include cruising and maximum flight speeds, flight range and duration, practical and theoretical ceiling, rate of climb.
Cruising speed is the speed at which optimal engine operation is achieved. At cruising speed, fuel consumption and wear of engine parts are minimized. The indicator is:
- For R22 - 177 km/h.
- For R44 Raven II - 215 km/h.
- For R66 - 231 km/h.
At maximum speed, the engine works at its limit and fuel consumption increases. The indicator for the Robinson R22, R44 Raven II and R66 models is 180, 240 and 259 km/h, respectively.
Flight range is the maximum distance an aircraft can travel without landing and refueling. The figures for the R22, R44 Raven II and R66 models are 463, 563 and 648 km respectively.
Do not confuse range and flight duration. The second characteristic shows how long the rotorcraft can stay in the air without refueling. The figure is 2.2, 3.5 and 3 hours for the R22, R44 Raven II and R66 models, respectively.
Climb rate is a measure of how quickly you can gain altitude. All Robinson helicopter models climb at a speed of 5 m/s or 304 m/min.
The service ceiling is the maximum altitude at which a helicopter can be flown in practice without putting excessive load on the engine. At practical altitude, the aircraft retains power reserves to climb at a speed of 0.5 meters per second. The theoretical ceiling is the height at which the aircraft stops climbing when the engine is running at full speed.
For all Robinson helicopter models, the practical ceiling is 1500 meters, and the theoretical ceiling reaches 4250 meters.
Thanks to their flight characteristics, Robinson aircraft occupy a leading position in the class of light helicopters. They offer one of the highest cruising speeds on the market. Robinson rotorcraft are also ahead of their main competitors in terms of flight range and certainly superior to all competitors in terms of pricing.
A little physics
In order to take off using jet propulsion, you need to overcome gravity. This can be done in two ways: either accelerate the aircraft perpendicular to the force of gravity (that is, along the earth's surface) before the lifting force of the wings exceeds the force of gravity, or simply develop thrust that exceeds the force of gravity (that is, the weight of the aircraft). The first method is for conventional aircraft to take off, the second for helicopters, rockets and VTOL aircraft (vertical take-off and landing aircraft).
Vertical take-off aircraft
Since the bike does not have wings, only the second option remains. This is exactly what the Lazareth LMV 496 flying motorcycle uses. Considering that JetCat turbines are used there, the P1000-Pro model seems to be the most suitable option. This turbojet engine has a thrust of 1000 Newtons (about 100 kg), therefore, 4 such engines are capable of lifting an object weighing up to 400 kg. The engine itself weighs a little more than 10 kilos, which means 4 engines - only 40 kg.
It looks real, so we can conclude that the motorcycle concept shown is quite feasible in reality. Modern technologies make it possible to create a miniature turbojet engine capable of lifting even very large objects into the air.
Technical parameters of Robinson helicopters
Technical parameters include engine type and characteristics, fuel consumption, fuel tank capacity.
Robinson helicopters have one engine. Types R22 and R44 Raven II are equipped with piston power plants. The R66 is powered by a gas turbine engine. Piston engines are heavier and larger, but they provide economical fuel consumption. A gas turbine engine is lighter than a piston engine. It provides high flight speed, but consumes more fuel compared to a piston aircraft. But we must not forget that aviation kerosene, which gas turbine engines run on, is several times cheaper in Russia than 100 LL aviation gasoline, which is intended for piston engines.
More powerful engines consume more fuel, but are still cheaper to operate. In practice, they provide high flight speed and lifting capacity of the aircraft.
The Robinson R22 is powered by Lycoming O-360 four-cylinder engines. The power of the unit is 180 hp. With. The engine consumes about 34.5 l/h.
The Robinson R44 Raven II has a Lycoming IO-540 six-cylinder engine. Its power is 260 l/s, and its fuel consumption is about 57 l/h.
The Robinson R66 is powered by a Rolls-Royce RR300 gas turbine engine. Its power is 300 l/s, and fuel consumption reaches an average of 87 l/h.
The capacity of the standard fuel tank of the R22 model is 72.6 liters. For the R44 Raven II and R66 models, this figure is 120 and 285 liters, respectively.
Jet motorcycle and flying board: special transport for special forces
Humanity has always strived to expand the boundaries of its capabilities. Thanks to man's desire to swim underwater like fish, scuba gear and submarines appeared, and thanks to the desire to fly like birds, balloons and airplanes appeared. During the past 20th century, a huge number of ideas for creating various vehicles were generated. Some of them have become reality, some still remain only on the pages of science fiction works.
It was science fiction literature that gave the world such concepts as a flying motorcycle (hoverbike), a jetpack (jetpack) and a flying board (hoverboard). Despite numerous attempts, in the 20th century, none of the above vehicles left the prototype stage and were not implemented in any finished form.
Hoverbike from the movie “The Island”
In the 21st century, advances in electronics, sensors, and compact and powerful electric motors have made it possible to return to the idea of creating personal aircraft.
Hoverboard
The greatest success in creating a “flying board” was achieved by the French athlete and inventor Franky Zapata and his company Zapata Industries. In 2005, Zapata Industries introduced the Flyboard flying platform - a powerful pump forces water through a flexible pipe supplied from a jet ski, which is thrown down with force, allowing the pilot to fly at an altitude of up to 16 meters. The Flyboard flying platform is intended for entertainment and sports, but many solutions were developed on it, which later made it possible to create more advanced products.
Flyboard flying platform
The most breakthrough model from Zapata Industries was the Flyboard Air hoverboard. With its own weight of 25.1 kg, the Flyboard Air's carrying capacity was 102 kg, the maximum flight speed was 150-195 km/h, and the maximum ceiling was 1524 meters. Fuel tank capacity is 23.3 liters, flight duration is 10 minutes. In 2021, Flyboard Air set a record, officially registered in the Guinness Book of Records, the flight range was 2 kilometers 252 meters, covered in 3 minutes 55 seconds.
Franky Zapata and his Flyboard Air
World record for hoverboard flight Flyboard Air
The Flyboard Air propulsion system includes four jet engines running on aviation kerosene. The fuel comes from a tank located in the backpack behind the pilot. Each engine produces about 30 kg of thrust, with a dead weight of 3 kg. In addition, the platform is equipped with a pair of additional low-inertia propfan motors to ensure fast response of the control system. The control system is another important element of the Flyboard Air; it compensates for wind gusts, weight redistribution due to pilot movements, fuel consumption, uneven engine operation with high speed and accuracy, and stabilizes the Flyboard Air’s flight.
The military parade on the Champs-Élysées in Paris to mark Bastille Day featured a Flyboard Air hoverboard with a pilot armed with a rifle (or an imitation rifle), highlighting the military's interest in the technology.
Flyboard Air at a military parade, in the skies over Paris
In what capacity might hoverboards be in demand in the armed forces? If anyone imagines packs of mobile infantry attacking the enemy on flying boards, then most likely he will be disappointed. At the moment, hoverboards are still bulky, difficult to control devices, and their flight time is extremely limited.
However, there are certain tactical situations where hoverboards can be not just useful, but even indispensable.
First of all, we can talk about carrying out special operations, for example, storming buildings, freeing hostages, etc. In this case, the use of hoverboards will eliminate the need for helicopters to land on the roofs of buildings. Hoverboards are delivered to the site of the special operation by motor transport, after which a combat unit can, within a few minutes, be thrown onto the roof of a building with the necessary weapons. The advantages of this solution include the ability to assess the situation on the spot, select a non-shootable sector for deployment, taking into account the architecture of the building, and the ability to quickly retreat if necessary.
The helicopter arrives at the point, landing special forces (from the seventh minute). In this situation, the strike group could carry out a hoverboard attack from the end of the building, where it is necessary to control only one window
As another example, consider urban warfare. In this case, hoverboards can be used, for example, to drop snipers onto a high-rise building, while all passages in the building can be mined. Or they can be used to get behind a position defended by the enemy, “leaping” over an obstacle.
Also, a hoverboard can be used to reach commanding heights in mountainous areas. A caveat must be made here that this will depend on the height to which it is capable of rising relative to sea level. According to some reports, the flight altitude of Flyboard Air can reach 3000-3500 meters, which is already comparable to the flight altitude of some helicopters. If the enemy has taken an advantageous position that makes it difficult to attack him head-on, and other areas are difficult to pass, a maneuverable group on hoverboards can take a position that is more advantageous relative to the enemy’s position.
It can be argued that a hoverboard pilot is extremely vulnerable in flight, but in fact he is no more, and rather less vulnerable, than a light helicopter pilot. Minimizing the likelihood of a pilot being hit should be ensured by the suddenness of its use (there is no flight time, like a helicopter, when it can be detected from afar by the sound of the engines) and a short flight time, actually a jump. And hitting a small moving target is not as easy as it seems at first glance.
In any of the scenarios, the hoverboard is not considered as a platform for combat operations, but only as a highly mobile means of moving over short distances in specific tactical situations.
In its unmanned form, the hoverboard can be used to deliver weapons and ammunition to a blocked combat group.
Hoverbike
The idea of creating a flying motorcycle - a hoverbike - attracts people no less.
At the beginning of the 21st century, there were two ways to create hoverbikes. The first is the creation of a flying motorcycle with jet engines, the second is the creation of a flying motorcycle based on technologies used to create unmanned quadcopters. Accordingly, either liquid fuel or stored electricity in batteries is used as fuel. Each designated path has both its advantages and difficulties in implementation. One of the most interesting, and presumably close to implementation, concepts is Jetpack Aviation's Speeder jet motorcycle. Equipped with four jet engines, the Speeder will be able to reach speeds of more than 240 km/h and rise to a height of 5,000 meters with a payload of 115 kg. Initially, the jet engines are planned to be placed in the central part of the structure, but this may make it difficult to control the vehicle and will require the introduction of complex autonomous stabilization technologies, so in the future the turbines may be moved closer to the edges of the body.
The flight time will be about 30 minutes. Is it a lot or a little? Taking into account the declared maximum speed, this is about 100-120 km. It is quite enough to fly to a country residence, bypassing city traffic jams. Jetpack Aviation has already begun accepting pre-orders for the Speeder. The cost of reserving a place in line is $10,000, and the total cost of the flying motorcycle will be $380,000. The first batch will consist of only 20 cars.
The possibility of creating a military version of the jet motorcycle is being considered. It will have five engines instead of four, the payload capacity and maximum flight time will be increased.
Jetpack Aviation's Speeder jet motorcycle
Advertising presentation of the Speede hoverbike
Another example of a hoverbike, previously developed by the Russian and now American startup Hoversurf, has more modest characteristics. The Hoversurf company was founded by St. Petersburg resident Alexander Atamanov and registered in California in 2014.
His Scorpion flying motorcycle has a carbon fiber frame, thanks to which it weighs less than 114 kg, a hybrid lithium-manganese-nickel battery that can provide from 10 to 25 minutes of flight depending on the weather and the weight of the pilot. In remote control mode, the flight time will be 40 minutes. The Scorpion hoverbike can fly up to 16 meters above the ground, reaching a maximum speed of 96 km per hour.
Despite its more modest specs compared to Jetpack Aviation's Speeder, the Scorpion hoverbike is much closer to fruition. Pre-production prototypes have been shown, and a purchase order has also been opened - the price of the hoverbike will be Scorpion 150 thousand dollars. The Scorpion hoverbike is classified as an ultra-light vehicle, allowing you to fly in the US without a pilot's license.
Hoversurf Scorpion hoverbike
Scorpion hoverbike tested by Dubai police in 2019
Hoversurf plans to produce other types of similar aircraft for civil and special applications.
Hoversurf eVTOL
Looking at this and other projects that “escaped” from Russia, I would like to say that the leadership of our country should reconsider its approach to high-tech domestic startups. Otherwise, all that will remain later is to proudly say that the US helicopter industry was founded by a native of Russia, and remember numerous other similar examples.
How can hoverbikes be used by military and special forces? As in the case of hoverboards, hoverbikes should hardly be considered as combat vehicles designed for striking the enemy from the air, although such use cannot be completely ruled out in the future.
First of all, hoverbikes can be used for the rapid delivery of special forces. In the event of a terrorist threat, minutes can count. Delay will allow terrorists to equip firing points and install mine-explosive devices. At the same time, the congestion of city highways does not allow special transport to quickly move to the required positions. Hoverbikes will provide special forces with the highest speed of response to threats, which cannot be provided by any other type of vehicle.
They can perform a similar function for ground units of the armed forces - quickly deliver help, transfer weapons and ammunition over a distance of about 100 kilometers in the shortest possible time, move to positions and occupy them, ahead of the enemy. At the same time, in the future, hoverbikes can return to base in autopilot mode, so as not to further expose the fighters. Or vice versa, in unmanned mode, move to a specified point and ensure the evacuation of a ground unit.
The most important use of hoverbikes could be their use by doctors to provide emergency medical care to both civilians and military personnel in case of injury. With many types of illnesses or injuries, it’s not just minutes that count, but seconds.
Time will tell how true the expected scenarios for the use of hoverboards and hoverbikes are, but already now almost all developers of this type of aircraft provide for the possibility of their military and special use. It is highly likely that these types of aircraft will be in demand not only in the civilian market, but also as vehicles for the armed forces and special forces.
